I could not be more in love with this richly patterned turtleneck dress from Cara Cara. I bought it on a whim, pulled in by the motif, but was unsure whether I would like the figure-conscious style. I’m smitten. It hugs in all the right places and creates a lovely silhouette. I took an XS in this, my true size, so would advise the same for you. If you’ve been dragging your feet waiting for a Thanksgiving look to materialize in your closet: this is it. I actually might bump this up and wear myself for the occasion! I did already wear it out to dinner last week with friends, but I styled down by pairing with these cowboy boots. You could absolutely dress up with velvet platforms or sandals (these are in my cart).
I also earmarked this beautiful tweed Saloni number for an upcoming girl’s weekend. How fun?! I’m not usually a minidress gal, but I feel like this dress needs to be a mini to tone down the intensity/stodge factor of heavy tweed. I took my true size in this and it runs just a tiny bit snug. I’d still take your true size, but if between sizes, size up.
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Last Friday, I was rushing, irritated. Plans had gone awry, appointment times had spilled over, and the day’s agenda chafed and constricted, a too-tight sweater. I hate the feeling of being rushed, but I am now so conscious of and allergic to the glorification of busyness that I doubly despise the sensation.
In my car, by unprogrammed happenstance, Siri played “In the Bleak Midwinter,” a choral hymn performed by the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. I’d never heard it before, but would later learn that many consider this “the world’s greatest carol.”
Time stalled, then stretched out like taffy. The arrangement alone left a lump in my throat. The piercing staccato notes, the exquisite dynamics, the artful syncopation plucked at my heart strings. What you are worrying about at this moment does not matter, the piano seemed to say. And then, too, the lyrics, which I later learned were adapted from an 1872 poem of the same name by Christina Rossetti, who was described by her brother as “replete with the spirit of self-postponement.” (More on that later, but fellow English majors may remember Rossetti even without her brother’s portraiture as the author of “Goblin Market,” a text we all probably hated at one point, but is well worth re-visiting. It is weird and rich and surprisingly modern?)
The opening quatrain is fascinating:
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
The lines are catchy and well-paced — almost singsong — with a crisp AABB rhyme scheme, but they also have a strange scansion pattern: 11 feet (line 1), 11 feet (line 2), 10 feet (line 3), 9 feet (line 4), and seem to alternate erratically between patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables. Perhaps there is a poetry student who can share the full scan for trochees and dactyls, but even without that apparatus: if we read the stanza, we will find ourselves unsure at certain points of how to pace and emphasize the lines, especially in “snow on snow, snow on snow.” But this metrical dissonance echoes the broader themes of the poem: this is the story of Christmas, and the shocking imbalance between a birth in a humble manger and the salvation it heralded.
The modern, dynamic piano instrumentation presents a parallel gloss: its halting simplicity strains against the fullness and tradition of the vocals. This is a sung poem of contrast. The rich against the bare; the choir beside the single-struck piano note; the king amidst the hay.
I was, of course, Gretel on her breadcrumb trail, following the scattered path home. I thought immediately of how badly I’d misjudged the weight of my own day. I re-scaled the matters on my mind, the hymn a badly-needed solvent, both in the context of the day and in the broader lead-up to Advent. “Let’s get this straight,” I found myself thinking, adjusting. Later, I thought of Rossetti, and of her “spirit of self-postponement,” and of the way she was perfectly poised to write about the quiet wait of Advent. How badly I had needed to hear her vanitas mundi rejoinder.
Post-Scripts.
+”O Little Town of Bethlehem” remains my favorite carol, though. I sing it to my children every night of the year. I wrote a bit about it here and here.
+I have been resisting this admission for a long time, but I have to say — True & Co’s seamless triangle bra is, after all, the best bra in the world. I wish it were a tad sexier/prettier but it is so comfortable, looks great under everything, and works with tons of necklines. I reach for it every single day. This was a Magpie reader rec and you did not steer me wrong. They released a less expensive version with Target, but I’ve not tried it. (Has anyone else? Is it as good as the real thing?)
+Doen launches its holiday collection today at 9 AM EST. I will be lined up and waiting. They sent me a preview and I’m already obsessed with the red velvet Celestine, the embellished Pamelina, and the slightly quirky Meltia. If you’re long and lean, the tartan Rosabelle is fabulous, too.
+If you like the look of my beloved Leset tee but not the price, I just noticed Target has $10 pointelle tees available in a range of colors here!
+My girlfriend Inslee designs the most beautiful desk calendars each year. You can buy here! I’ve given these as Christmas gifts to my mom and MIL in years past.
+This sequin maxi skirt is currently on sale for $114. So fab.
+Toying with the idea of buying my son a Banwood skateboard for Christmas. I recently noticed, while he was taking his first skating lesson, that he has a great temperament for athletics. He is not easily discouraged or frustrated, and takes feedback on the chin, without embarrassment or grimace. I think we might try to get him into more sports programs now that he’s heading into K.
+And a gift idea on my mind for my girl: this karaoke set. She loves singing SO much.
+I just learned about the beauty brand Flyte.70. Has anyone tried? Intrigued by this serum primer and their lip colors.
+How adorable is this snowman sweatshirt for your little one?
+I’ve read a few Lauren Groff pieces over the years and somehow missed the release of this one about a month ago. On my reading list…
+Ski bunnies: how cute are these ski-print jammies/thermals from Polkadot London?
By: Jen Shoop
On Sunday, my son volunteered to carry “the activity bag” into Church, and I could not stop laughing at the photo I snapped (above). Why does he look like a tiny adult? I sent it to my sister with the subtitle: “Do I have to do everything around here?” and added: “Why does he have the body language of an irritated parent?” She responded: “Zach, did you at least remember to get tomatoes at the grocery?!” Ha!
A few Magpies responded to the photo when I shared it on Instagram asking what I keep in my Church activity bag, and I thought I’d share my process, which has worked really well for us. For the past few years, I’ve kept a big tupperware bin of children’s activities in my studio closet. I will periodically add to the stash and remove depleted coloring books or work pads that my children have outgrown, but my rule is this: these items only come out when we are leaving the house (at Church, at a restaurant, at the doctor’s office, for my son while sitting on the sidelines at my daughter’s soccer games) and they go right back into the bin when we return home. This means that the children find near-constant delight in whatever is in my “activity bag,” because they do not have constant access to its contents, and I’m rotating what’s offered every trip. Just before we head out the door, I’ll decant a handful of activities into my LL Bean tote, toss in more snacks than I think we’ll need (still swear by these Beaba containers for cut fruit and small pours of goldfish, crackers, pretzels, etc — great for Church, too, because otherwise the littles are loudly ripping and crinkling the snack bags), and we’re off.
A few staples in the bin (and P.S. – a lot of these would make great little gifts or stocking stuffers for the holiday gifting season) —
01. Usborne sticker books. The absolute best. Highly detailed and whimsical — these keep my children busy for long periods of time. Lots of designs available!
02. This marker set. (Makes for easy transit, works even on airplanes/in car because each marker is secured in little prongs, and they never dry out because the children aren’t able to just leave them around sans caps.)
06. These artfolios from a limited edition Isaac Mizrahi collab with State. I bought a few more awhile back while on sale — these make great gifts. The children love them!
07. Paint by Sticker books. My son particularly loves these — he’s excellent at puzzles / spatial games so these are right up his alley.
12. Specific for restaurants / doctor’s office / anything with a wait: Uno, Go Fish, Eye Found It, Slamwich, Spot It. This Go Fish set is especially well designed for little ones.
13. On the snacks front: a mom in my son’s class sends in a “tower” of snacks each day using a contraption like this — brilliant! I’m also still loving these B. Box snack containers. They’re the perfect small size, easy to open, easy to clean, and they always invite me to pair a vegetable/fruit with something crunchy.
15. These boat totes are the best for this kind of schlepping and storage, especially since they have the flat bottom and can stand upright on their own, and they aren’t too precious that you’ll scream when a marker marks up the side or snacks spill everywhere.
16. You’ve never seen humans more worried about their hydration than my children when they realize we forgot their water bottles. Doesn’t matter if we’re gone for an hour. They are suddenly the most parched people on the planet. These Yetis are still my favorite. Easy to fill, not a ton of parts to clean, keep water cold, do not spill. They are a tad heavy for the tiny ones though.
18. Plus plus tiles. I actually keep ours in a zippered pouch for easier transport/cleaning up.
Not seen above, but worth a mention:
+Pipsticks stickers. I actually have a subscription and we receive new stickers each month! I dole them out carefully, and I always have a few in my bin.
+Water Wow deluxe books. They now strongly prefer these “deluxe” ones with the magnifying glass.
+When they were a bit younger, they also liked the Melissa and Doug puffy stickers, magnetic dress-up sets, and the Crayola mess-free sets, but I find they’re less interested in those nowadays.
+Specific for Church: my daughter loved (!) this magnetic Church book, and it was a good way for her to understand the places in the Church. And some of the WaterWows are religious!
P.P.S. Motherhood emotions can be such a mystery. Sometimes, still, I’m gobsmacked by the intensity of certain transitions.
P.P.P.S. Cute finds for little girls, plus coats for little ones.
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By: Jen Shoop
Today, sharing meaningful gifts for the women we love in our lives — the kinds of items I would breathlessly gush about once opened: “OK, I have to tell you about this…” or “You will be obsessed with this…” All are perfect for holiday gift-giving, but lovely for birthdays, or just because occasions, too. Here are the litmus tests I typically use: 1) would I want this for myself?; 2) is this realistically priced? (I personally don’t go above $150 for most gifts; there are some items a bit more expensive, but most are $150 or less); and 3) is this something that I would actually feel comfortable giving? On this latter point, I often feel that gift guides look pretty on the page, with all the objects a lovely constellation of color and pattern, but when it comes down to it, isolating just one item on its own can sometimes feel…boring? Unimpressive? Impersonal?
01. TRACKSMITH HARRIER TEE. For the fellow runner / outdoor athlete in your life. This is the kind of thing I find difficult to splurge on for myself ($84 for a running tee?!), but has turned out to be a total exercise essential. I hope she doesn’t see it, but I’m buying one of these for my sister, who’s gotten into running this year.
02. HAAND DESSERT BOWLS. Mr. Magpie and I love the handmade dishes from this Carolina-based company. This set of dessert bowls would be a sweet treasure for a good friend. Gorgeous even as a display item on a shelf!
03. MARCH HARE WRAP WATCH. I love the styles of these well-priced leather watches. Hermes vibes for a fraction of the price. The “about” story behind this brand is adorable: the founder, Mabel, inherited and promptly lost her mother’s leather watch after leaving for college, and wasn’t able to find anything to replace it that wasn’t exorbitantly expensive. She now runs the business with her sister. UPDATE: March Hare has offered us 10% off with code MAGPIEBYJENSHOOP.
04. SEY COFFEE SUBSCRIPTION. For the coffee perfectionist! We’ve been enjoying our subscription to this Brooklyn-based roaster for most of 2023. These coffees are outrageously delicious.
05. HESTRA ALTA MITTENS. Hestra is family run business that has been around for over a century and is trusted for cold weather accoutrements. Ideal for the sis always complaining about cold fingers, or the one who just relocated to Chicago.
06. CELINE TRIOMPHE KEY RING. For your sister who loves a splash of designer. This is the kind if bibelot she’d probably never buy herself, but will delight in toting with her keys.
07. WHEN THINGS FALL APART. This is currently in my TBR. Advice for navigating and healing from tough times from a Buddhist nun. A thoughtful gift for a girlfriend who’s leaned on your shoulder and appreciates this kind of inspirational writing. (We all have those friends to whom we send / DM meaningful quotes.)
08. LL BEAN BOAT AND TOTE. A classic for a reason — these last forever and are wildly useful for, well, everything. Get it monogrammed with her nickname, or a funny inside joke. I love many of the colors, but especially the natural one, medium size, regular length straps, with “taupe” monogram.
09. APPOINTED NOTEBOOK AND 2024 PLANNER. I’m passionate about paper and gradually I have retired all other brands in favor of the thoughtfully-designed notebooks and planners from D.C.-based Appointed. I love the weight and texture of the paper (slightest bit of gloss, ink does not bleed through to the other side), and the overall design — the gold block font, the minimalist design, the elegant colors — make me feel artful.
10. KAWECO PEN. Bundle the notebooks with this style-conscious pen. I’m sure there are many Reddit subthreads passionately abuzz about this implement.
11. PICAYUNE CELLARS WINE CLUB. This female-founded, Napa-based winery offers a French woman’s take on Cali wines/grapes. We found her wines elegant but fun. Treat your mama to the wine club for a year, or select a couple of bottles to ship. They do not distribute beyond the Napa region, so a wine lover will delight in this new discovery.
12. DORSEY CLEMENCE BRACELET. So spectacular — this will take her breath away and promptly join her arm party. I feel like this style suits so many different “vibes” — classic, edgy, feminine, minimalist.
13. BY MALINA BLOUSE — Unusual, artisanal, elevated. This feels like a party waiting to happen. Your fashion-forward sister will be obsessed.
14. UBEAUTY LIP PLASMA SET — You know that I’m borderline fanatic about this product (…!). Your beauty-loving girl will treasure this splurgey little surprise.
15. COLLECTOR’S EDITION SCRABBLE — For the sister who always beats you, a game pretty enough to keep out on the coffee table.
16. DANSK KOBENSTYLE SAUCEPAN — Love this pretty-enough-to-display saucepan. The 1 quart size is perfect for heating her favorite soup, warming milk, preparing hot chocolate.
17. RHOBACK Q-ZIP — For your golf or tennis buddy, a performance material pullover for your next match/round.
18. ALWAYS BRACELET — The charm on this sweet bracelet from Hart jewelry (based in Charleston, SC) is stamped with the word “always” for that loved one who is, well, always there, and who you’ll always be there for, too.
19. ACID LEAGUE VINEGARS — For the curious, cultivated cook. We all have that friend who makes the best vinaigrette; she’ll love these.
20. LESET POINTELLE TEE — You didn’t think I’d leave my favorite thing to wear on a daily basis off the list, did you? So soft. Max hygge. She’ll thank you.
21. GOOP GLOW EXFOLIATOR — As you know, I can only speak in exclamation points about this fabulous exfoliator (both a chemical and physical exfoliant). I love this prettily-packed anniversary edition. Your bestie’s skin will thank you. (A full review here.)
22. CADENCE TRAVEL JARS — These modular, magnetic travel containers have generated quite the buzz and would be a fun upgrade for a frequent traveler. One big bonus is that they’re dishwasher-safe (and, of course, leakproof, sleek, compact), so you can easily clean them out between trips (a gripe of mine with my lesser expensive sets).
23. MASON PEARSON BRUSH — A classic, high-function tool she’ll have for the rest of her life. We all need one! This is the kind of thing no one wants to spend money on, but she’ll be so happy she has this in her tool kit. If you’re not familiar with the brand, it’s been around forever and is widely known for distributing hair oil really well for a beautiful, tangle-free, glossy mane of hair.
24. HUNZA G SWIMSUIT — The OSFA swimsuit we all love and adore. Do you have a gal pal who is new to the brand? She’ll be indebted to you when she realizes this is the only thing she reaches for on pool days. Bonus: this also works with bump, so a thoughtful gift for an expecting mama.
26. SENNHEISER MOMENTUM 4 NOISE CANCELING HEADPHONES — I just bought these for myself after doing quite a bit of research. These turned my head over a few other options because they are ultra lightweight (much lighterweight than Apple Max), come with a case and AUX adapter that make it great for travel, and have a very long battery life (over 2x longer than Apple’s set). These would be a thoughtful gift for a frequent traveler or anyone who has expressed trouble focusing while in a co-working space (or WFH).
27. MATCH SOUTH FRAMED MATCHBOOK — Tons of designs available; pick the one that showcases a prominent shared memory, space, experience, etc. (E.g., “Never forget the night at Chick-Fil-A” or “That time we splurged to share a room at The Plaza.”)
28. MERIT GLOW SET. I want to give ALL Merit products to ALL my loved ones. This set is ideal, though, because you don’t have to make any guesses about what color complexion stick to buy, making it a bit easier to deliver as a gift.
29. UGG TAZZ SLIPPERS. I literally can’t take these off. They are my new personality.
30. MODEL BAKERY ENGLISH MUFFINS. One of the best things I’ve eaten all year. While in Calistoga, CA, we visited this century-old bakery twice in three days. They ship!
31. HANNI X MACHETE HOLIDAY SET — I just received a few Hanni products and will share the full DL soon, but this brand makes self-care/grooming gear “for lazy girls.” (Or, as I’d prefer to put it, “for busy girls.”). This set includes their best-selling water balm (apply in shower and you don’t need to use lotion afterward!) and the hair clip that Gwyneth Paltrow raves about.
32. QUINCE CASHMERE SWEATER — One of my favorite sweaters, and somehow under $100. Ultra-soft. Size up one or even two sizes.
P.S. As we head into the Advent season, I’m thinking of this post from a few years ago, which asked: “What’s in your house?” as a way to set the table for the season.
P.P.P.S. Lots of amazing new Shopbop finds…! I did end up buying this dress! Maj Halle Berry in the 90s vibes.
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By: Jen Shoop
I’ve had a few questions about tops to wear this winter — not sweaters, not tees — but the kind of thing you can pair with jeans for a casual but polished look. I’ve been hunting for exactly this myself, and am sharing a shortlist of my favorites finds:
01. Agolde Delphi Ribbed Tee. I just ordered in the chocolate brown. I like the idea of this with any pair of jeans — including ecru and black! I paired my brown Arlette turtleneck with black jeans and my Gucci logo boots over the weekend and loved the look.
02. Speaking of — Arlette turtleneck! An icon. Love the buttons at wrist. This has a nice, thick weight — good for chilly days — but still stretchy and ultra-soft. Zara has a look-for-less style in more limited colors here.
03. Negative Underwear whipped henleys. I spotted one of these on the lovely Anna Kloots and immediately ordered one to try. She was wearing with jeans / day-wear even though they appear to be marketed more as undergarments. She looked so chic and sexy!
04. Leset Kelly tee. I’ve talked your ear off about the pointelle tees, but now I’m contemplating their basic ribbed style. I own this in the short-sleeve and it runs very snug. Might go up to a small (typically, I’m a true XS).
05. So, of course, Leset pointelle tees, too. My big layering obsession this fall/winter. TL;DR: you will look forward to laundry days because you’ll get your pointelle tee back.
06. Talbots Ribbed Crewneck. In my closet in ivory and gets much more wear than I anticipated. This is great for tucking into a statement pair of jeans (I’m wearing with my metallic ones!) or layering beneath another chunky cardigan / coatigan situation.
07. Commando turtleneck bodysuits. Have been hearing such good things about this brand’s jersey basics. Very intrigued by these for tucking into skirts / high-waisted trousers so you’re not constantly fiddling with the shirt hem / re-tucking.
08. La Ligne Fete metallic cashmere turtleneck. Another find in my cart — I love the idea of wearing this with high-waisted jeans and great heels for a festive-but-not-frou-frou moment. Get the vibe for less with this Boden.
P.S. Shared more favorite tees (mainly striped and short-sleeved) here. I also did just order two short-sleeved tees, as sometimes I prefer that beneath a sweater when in transitional weather: Leset’s classic Margo (never tried, have heard such good things) and Leset’s pointelle short-sleeve. I also (still!) love my $15 Uniqlos, and have heard good things about Rag & Bone’s “The Tee.”
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By: Jen Shoop
Maybe a year ago, I was catching up with a girlfriend, and we talked a little bit about Magpie and my recent writing. She said: “Jen, it’s been fun to watch you take off.” I was startled and flattered — especially because I don’t feel like I’ve “taken off,” and I hadn’t known she was watching, either. Or maybe there are many ways to take flight and I was grasping the words too literally. I’m not flexing faux modesty here, I promise, but for the past fifteen years, I have sat behind this same, chipped white desk from college and written with the same blinders on and imagined the same set of Magpie readers at the other end of the screen. Some of you have aged right alongside me, pressing palms across the digital chasm, as we’ve felt our way through the joys, wanderings, and griefs of our 20s, 30s, now into 40s, which is kind of a gorgeous provisional fellowship, if you think about it? (By what stars did we fall into alignment with one another?) Anyhow, my point is this: I experienced a stirring kind of frisson seeing myself through my friend’s eyes. After, I thought about the stages of flight. Am I taxiing? Am I just at lift-off? Or have I been cruising at peak altitude, wind beneath my wings, for a good clip now? It certainly doesn’t feel that I’m alight: I am learning every day, even in the finer points of administrating this publication, fifteen years in. But maybe we never feel life, lived out in its daily minutiae, unturbulent? (And, God forbid, am I in descent? — I can’t be!)
These questions tangle around my experience of my own writing, itself a recursive practice that continuously deposits me at the bottom of a steep hill. I am writing my way to the crest, but I find myself tumbling downward with occasionally despairing frequency. The ending isn’t right, or the words fall flabby, or the pointed end of the pen buries itself in a penumbra. Bottom of the hill, bottom of the hill, bottom of the hill! Now we know the myth of Sisyphus in technicolor. But I will say this: while I look at some of my early writings and cringe, I find that I have learned to represent my experiences more crisply and satisfyingly in language as I’ve developed as a writer, and that I can side-eye or even look directly at my more recent work without the desire for self-immolation. So that is itself a kind of aviation, I think.
Maybe I choose to see myself in early flight. You are lower to the ground, you are obliged to tamper with the dynamics. If you fall, it’s not that far and it won’t hurt too badly. If you suddenly start publishing short fiction, or writing long-form sci-fi, or going deep on a narrow history of something obscure, so what? It’s just play, or practice, and there is only a short contrail behind you. You can make yourself over again tomorrow. Abutting the philosophical, I will confess that I like the sprinting, breathless sensation: this is the only way I know how to work. It is clunky, and jostling, but the exertion feels meritorious, or medicinal. Maybe all of these years, I have just been sprinting and jumping into short loops of flight across a very long runway. Not bad, I don’t think: I am still catching air.
I sat down today to share that comment from my friend, though, because I had occasion, this week, to pay the sentiment forward to another creative friend of mine who has launched a new career in the past few years. I was able to tell her, in conscious mimicry of my own friend: “It’s been fun to watch you take off.” Because it has been. I’ve watched her maneuver through twenty-seven versions of herself as she’s figured out a new industry, business, brand, and that takes ingenuity and conviction and a rare mix of humility and ambition. I wanted her to see that, from the outside in. So often, we celebrate at the finish line, and even sometimes at the shotgun (“…and off they go!”). We forget the long, lonely, lode-star-less middles, where achievements that might have felt like victories a year ago had they somehow materialized without the strenuous legwork required now appear shrunken and indiscernible in the shuffle, tumbled together with “bills to pay” and “the next step” and “oh, great, the website is down.” “Success” does not float like a buoy. It is impossible to wrap your arms around it while you are in the middle of a long, fatiguing swim. It is just: keep the arms windmilling, and the legs kicking, and focus on your breathing. That essay failed, let’s start over. Bottom of the hill, bottom of the hill, bottom of the hill. I do not feel morose about this, by the way. Per my previous note, I think I’m most comfortable in the stages of pre- and early-flight. But it can be nice, all the same, to have someone see you in it, and I have wanted for some time to pay the generosity of my friend forward by letting someone know: “I see you in all your aerofoil glory.”
May I nudge you today to tick through your list of friends and loved ones, and to let one of them know she is seen in whatever phase of flight she’s reached?
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Shopping Break.
+Just got these Madewell jeans in. I have to say, they’re a PRET-TY good “dupe” for the Mother Hustler Ankle Fray jeans I raved about last month. (Full review / try-on here.) I wore the Madewells to a concert last Friday and found them flattering and comfortable!
+The little satin bag we all need for the holidays. Love it in the red or hot pink.
+Fun embellished flats — these look much higher end than they are.
+Dorsey just released its final batch of Clemence necklaces for the 2023 year. This is my favorite piece of jewelry from them; I wrote a detailed review here.
+These statement earrings (under $100) are in my cart.
+This may be my favorite way to get “a pop of red” into my winter wardrobe. Love the idea of this with light-wash denim or tucked into a silk slip skirt.
+This metallic midi skirt is so fab for an unexpected holiday look. I would pair with an ivory turtleneck.
+These Pehr zippered pouches are enormous – perfect for a diaper bag.
+This brushed cashmere polo sweater in the light pink…!!!!
+Cailini Coastal has some seriously cute holiday finds, including these shatterproof cups (for a little roadie while caroling!), these wicker bells, and these perfect velvet ribbons for tying on top of boxwoods / on wreaths / etc.
By: Jen Shoop
Earlier this week, Mary Oliver asked* me: “Listen, are you breathing just a little and calling it life?“
The words came like a bucket of ice water to the face. I have been splashing myself with their residual chill multiple times a day, which has helped me put up blinders when I am engaged in something that matters to me. For example, my children were at an excitement level 2000 on Halloween, and I fully leaned into the chaos. Our neighborhood puts on a big block party with pizza and wine and candy-crazed children running around missing shoes and tails, and I consciously felt myself “unlock.” I let go of bedtimes, of foisting some kind of sustenance in my children’s bodies, of reminding them to use the toilet. It felt so good to lean into the ebullience of the night with them. Despite the fact that all of the neighborhood children descend on the houses at once, in a big clump (parents basically wink at each other at some furtively-agreed-upon-time and we all rush back to our houses so that one spouse is available to dole out candy while the other meanders behind the children), the pack usually winnows out quickly, with older children charging ahead or meeting up with other pals, and younger ones toddling home. As an unexpected bonus, one of my good friends from the neighborhood has two girls around my daughter’s age and we ended up doing the entire Halloween night together. Our three girls kept cheersing: “It’s the girl gang!” as they strategized about which houses to visit. It was relaxing to have good companionship myself while carrying Emory’s 4,000 pounds of candy. (Hill and Mr. Magpie peeled off early — my son was so tired by seven o’clock! He couldn’t keep up with the group and complained about tired legs.) I was reminded of the incredible gift of good neighbors.
I’m not sure if it was Mary Oliver’s brisk reminder or my wellness-oriented visit to Calistoga (truly, the mineral bath treatment was a profound exercise in mindfulness), but I found myself able to replicate this “unlocking” or rather, “locking in” multiple times this week: at a parent-teacher conference; while helping my mother sort through her closet; while on a call with a girlfriend; while walking the dog. In each situation, I envisioned myself flipping a switch to drown out all noise and interruption and instead hyper-focus on what I was meant to do, and where I was meant to be. I have started implementing small things in my digital life to advance the same agenda. I recently turned off notifications for emails, messages, and DMs on my phone and instead try to batch the activity of checking all of those communication channels a few times a day. It’s imperfect, but it is so much easier for me to focus on what I’m doing if I’m not seeing every single message as it materializes, in real time. I also try to keep my phone out of sight and reach between the hours of 6-8 so I can dial in on family and dinner, and routinely leave my phone at home while taking Tilly for short walks (longer, I take it for safety / just in case). A small enhancement I am trying to implement is completing one task at a time on my computer. I often find I am waiting for something to upload, or print, or generate and in that nano-second of downtime, I’m opening a second window to do something else, or looking at the next item on my task list. This generates an unnecessarily frenetic desk experience that benefits nobody and nothing. We’re talking fractions of a second. If I can’t sit still and wait for a fraction of a second…? At bedtime, I fastidiously avoid interaction with my phone. My next target is avoiding my phone first thing in the morning, too. I do like to participate in my digital prayer circle as soon as I’m awake, but I figure I could also pray myself and send the emoji (which signals to my mother and sister that I am praying at that moment) later in the day.
The one frontier I am struggling with is responding to personal emails, calls, and messages. I find that in my new model of “checking a few times a day,” I will inadvertently focus on the most important messages and often let the lighter-weight ones (or ones that require lengthy thought and response) settle at the bottom…and then go unanswered for days, and sometimes forever. How important is it to respond to a meme or a group thread, for example? And yet, often, as adult women, these are the places we connect, and laugh, and remember one another. I am trying to figure out the correct and kind mnemonic for these interactions. Any tips on good communication hygiene?
*Does it ever feel like an author is writing deliberately to you?
Usually, I share a few photographs from my week at this point in my Diary posts, but I took nearly nothing this week save for a couple of snaps of my children on Halloween. Instead, a black and white prose list will have to do —
+I told Mr. Magpie I was planning to buy those noise-canceling headphones and he immediately jumped into tech research mode. He’s urging me to consider either Sennheiser Momentum 4s or these ultra-splurge-y ones from Focal. (He also put Apple’s over-the-ear model in the running, and he rates all three of those over the Bose set in my cart). Stay tuned…
+I did, however, buy a ton of Emergen-C and a portable charger for my new iPhone 15 Pro on your travel tip recs. I agree: so much less stressful than finding a plug.
+Wait — Merit just launched a new suite of products, including a mascara and a brow gel. I need to try everything. (You can still get some of my favorite Merit products at a discount via the Sephora sale, which ends tomorrow. All my favorite Merit picks detailed here.)
+These velvet alphabet ornaments from Parterre are so beautiful.
+La Ligne generously offered to send me a piece from their winter collection, and I chose this sequin midi skirt. I think I will buy the matching metallic turtleneck! (I mentioned just yesterday that I’m into everything metallic right now, and between penning that post and this, I received this opportunity!). They also created a code — MAGPIE25 — for $25 off your first order at La Ligne.
+Also on the festive dressing front: I finally ordered this tulle dress from A+O. It was taunting me and I couldn’t resist. Imagine with a velvet heel and big earrings. Look for less with this or this.
+I keep a small stack of drawings from my children and a photograph of my Grandma Carm right next to my pen cup on my desk. I recently ordered a few of these clear, magnetic frames so that I could line them up in my window sill and see all of them at once (versus in an unceremonious heap).
+Is it just my children, or are your kids obsessed with KidBopz? Mr. Magpie and I hate it so much. Like, why are we listening to a bad rendition of “Thriller” when Michael Jackson’s is so, so much better? I am not normally this strident, but occasionally, I will numbly, accidentally leave it on after dropping my children at school and only midway home realize I’ve been torturing myself. Ha! One thing that is helpful with this in general is my daughter’s HomePodMini — it has safety controls so there is no bad language, but she can tell Siri, in her room, to play KidBopz or Taylor Swift or whatever she’d like. This way, we can tell them “Go to your room if you want to hear that!” We also get them lots of the song-centric Tonies. They are currently fighting over this one.
+Speaking of Tonies: my children love Wild Kratts (my son in particular — he absorbs a lot of detail about the animals!) and I can’t wait to give him these Tonies in his stocking.
+Meanwhile, my daughter was thrilled to discover that there is an AppleTV series based on one of her book series, The Owl Diaries.
+I’ve been testing the Goop affordable clean beauty diffusion line, and this cleanser is pretty damn good. It has a strong scent (fruity / juice-like), but the result is similar to Youth to the People’s formula, which might tie with Motif as my favorite facial cleanser.
+My friend Alex ran a “featurette” of me on her blog, Handpicked, this week. I am so flattered!
+I have two textured ivory sweaters I keep reaching for, morning after morning: this Madewell and this Talbots. They’re simply what I want to wear, over a tee or turtleneck, with jeans, every single day.
Mainly excited about this knit dress I ordered from Sezane! I mentioned this a few posts ago, but I don’t normally do knit dresses and this one literally jumped off the screen at me. So fun and different, and love the idea of it paired with suede boots or ballet flats.
P.S. Just updated “my closet” with a bunch of my more recent wardrobe acquisitions!
This Week’s Bestsellers.
A gorgeous preview of the holiday season, if you ask me. I love the black gown so many of you bought!
Earlier this week, I looked out the front window and realized fall was shrinking into winter. The once-bushy-and-boastful tree standing outside our window, just yesterday alight in a showman’s orange and red, had withered away, leaving bare its stick figure, all knobs and bark. Is it my inborn East Coast Puritanism speaking, or do I like the bracing tonic of winter? The way it dims the light, strips bare what was once full, and reminds me of the strong, corded strength beneath? I reflected on this the other day and decided that part of winter’s appeal stems from the Catholicism in which I was raised. I cannot think of the winter months without immediately flashing back to the cold corridor in my parochial school, where we would line up on the stained blue carpet to sing “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” each morning of the Advent season, the overhead lights flicked off by Sister Teresa. That hymn is so haunting, so expectant — the somber march of the faithful through a long dark — and strangely moving to be sung by the young, clear voices of grade schoolers. I knew this even as a child, absorbing its seriousness whole. Do you know how snakes digest their meals in their entirety? That was the Advent experience for me: I grasped its bulky solemnity and promise, feeling rather than understanding the experience of huddling, in whispers, in the dim hallway, as we’d watch the white burn of the candle flames on the wreath. The memory now sits in my center, balancing the freneticism of the holiday season.
Post-Scripts.
+Currently in my cart: these turtleneck bodysuits, for tucking into trousers and high-waisted skirts this winter. Available in more colors here.
+Suddenly drawn to all things metallic. It started with these straight-leg jeans (size up and look for less here) and now I’m eyeing this ribbed metallic turtleneck. Just such an easy way to communicate “festive” without all the bells and whistles. Like, you could pair the turtleneck with jeans and velvet flats and look like the lowkey-cool picture of Christmas. You can get the look for less with this Boden!
+A cute, simple Advent calendar if you like to do the gift-a-day thing like we do.
+If you’re still looking for something to wear to Thanksgiving and usually lean more casual, you must consider this Alex Mill cardigan with a great (comfy) pair of jeans. PERFECT.
+Sephora’s sale ends Monday. Did you get anything? All my picks here.
+Black tie Christmas dreams. Also, this. And on the more affordable end of the spectrum: this. Swoooooon.
+These fur-trim loafers are CHIC. You might recall I wore a similar pair all last season (mine are no longer available).
+THESE are the stretchy legging-pants several Magpies wrote in about when talking about the best travel day outfit.
+I bought Mr. Magpie one of these adorable incense smokers last year and it was such a treasure to have out on the kitchen counter (we put it on top of a small cakestand to elevate it / make sure it didn’t just blend in). Again, the Catholic in me, but I love the smell of incense. A Magpie also shared a few weeks ago that she likes to gift these cute log cabin style incense smokers with the incense inserts and it totally achieves the same effect. Such a cozy, sensory way to celebrate the season.
+I put this off for way too long and only a year or two ago bought a bunch of ornament organizers. SO helpful.
+Did you know Jenni Kayne makes candles? Apparently they sell out every year!
You’ll notice a lot of repeat elements this week. I have not taken these new Dorsey Margaux earrings off since the Dorsey team sent them my way. They’re marketed as a statement earring but I have worn them everyday and love the way they add elegance/polish to any outfit. The scale is not as intimidating or overstated as I’d anticipated — I’d thought I might cosset them away for my holiday evening attire — and instead have been delighted to find they work for any occasion, from daytime to night. You’ll see them in many of the photos below. The other item I’ve been wearing nonstop (at the other end of the dressiness spectrum) are my Ugg Tazz slippers (more sizes here and here), which finally arrived. They are dreamy-cozy and I love that I can wear them outdoors for quick dog walks / runs to the postbox / pick-up or drop-off, but also have been sitting at my desk wearing them all the livelong day. Just fun hygge! These run the tiniest bit small. I took my true size (a 5 – I have pixie feet) and they still work great but might be challenging to style with heavier gauge socks.
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By: Jen Shoop
Earlier this year, Mr. Magpie announced plans to travel to Napa for business and invited me to join him at the tail end to extend the visit into a vacation. I immediately set to work researching Napa Valley, leaning on the advice of a few friends who’d lived in the Bay Area alongside a Magpie reader poll (thank you to all who responded!) and meandering Reddit dives. (How else do you find hyper-local, detailed information on restaurants, destinations, etc? I’d love your thoughts. Reddit is fantastic, but slow-going: you must filter through a lot of dubious suggestions, using intricate sleuthwork to suss out the credentials and tastes of each contributor before determining whether to take their opinions on board. Even then, I like to see some pattern formation, e.g. this Redditor who seems to know what she is talking about echoed the same thing this Redditor, who also seems to know what she is talking about, said. Reddit is a powerful tool but, much like Yelp, requires thorough critical analysis and data scrubbing.)
There were two themes that emerged from this research: 1) the towns are not as close together as they look on a map — do not expect to zip from Calistoga to Yountville and back multiple times in a day or even week unless you want to spend a lot of time in the car, and 2) the further north you go, the less trafficked and touristy things tend* to become. (*I am speaking in generalities as a tourist myself — I am confident there are natives who have tons of fabulous, off-the-beaten path recs all up and down the valley.) We took this intel on board and chose to stay in Calistoga, the town furthest north in Napa Valley, and to more or less restrict our itinerary to its environs. The strategy paid off beautifully and yielded a deeply restful, scenic, and quiet trip.
As a preamble to all of my notes below, I was astounded by Calistoga’s topography and botany. We could not stop talking about the environment, which felt painted-on, stretched across canvas, almost set-like. The textural diversity of the brush, trees, plants against the expansive blue skies and the shock of peaks in the near distance was — soul-stirring? Every time I looked on the landscape, I felt a twang too abstruse to fit into words. Truly one of my favorite visual experiences in recent memory.
Where to Stay in Calistoga, CA.
We stayed at Indian Springs Resort and Spa, and I can’t recommend it more. It has a boutique feel, with thoughtful decor (their interior designer did an especially creative job selecting the lighting fixtures — there is nothing “builder-grade” about the rooms) and meaningful perks, like a complimentary welcome drink at Palmeraie, the charming Airstream-come-coffee-and-cocktail bar that is “parked” at the front entrance of the resort, a small fridge in-room to stow wine you might have purchased while visiting local vineyards, complimentary in-room snacks, and refillable water bottles (along with lots of water stations across the property). Everything about Indian Springs reminded me to slow down. Even the speed signs around the property have messages like “Breathe” and “What’s the rush?” imprinted on them. To me, though, the real selling points of the property were its spa and location on Lincoln Ave, the main drag that runs through the quaint, hippie-cool town of Calistoga.
ABOVE: VIEW OF OUR HOTEL ROOM FROM THE POND // ARRIVAL DRINKS AT PALMERAIE // VIEW FROM OUR BALCONY
Our spa experience was near-spiritual. Calistoga is known for its mineral springs and mud baths, and in retrospect, I wish I’d sprung for the mud bath. I chickened out, though, slightly put off by the idea of sitting in a room with other women while an attendant slathered mud all over us. Instead, I opted for their classic mineral bath, and the experience was surreal and anointing. I began by sitting outside in a little courtyard, shivering in my robe in the 50 degree morning chill. An attendant brought me back to a row of three ancient-looking tubs filled with steaming mineral water that faced a wall with slatted windows letting the sunshine in and the mist out. I laid in the hot tub for 15 minutes, and everything about the soak seemed to heighten my senses while dulling the normal riotous rush of thoughts in my mind. It was as though I was drawn outside of my body, aware principally of the slight weight of the mineral water on my skin, the steam in my face, the cold air in my nose. The attendant then deposited me in a sauna for 8 minutes, and where have saunas been all my life?! I loved the dry heat, especially after the tub immersion. Finally, I was “put down for a nap” (!) in a dark room, cocooned in blankets and an eye mask. This sensory progression made me feel the full 2,798 miles between myself and my home, in the best way possible: I was detached, blissed out, on another plane. After, I enjoyed an hour long massage on a heated table, during which I realized how badly my feet needed to be touched. As a runner, I will occasionally treat and stretch my legs, but I never think about my feet. It was divine. Finally, I joined a serene and sleepy-eyed Mr. Magpie, who had just experienced the same progression of treatments himself (FYI: the mineral/mud baths are gender-separated), and we sat in a happy emptiness around the Buddha Pond behind the spa. I cannot recommend this protocol more if you need to unhook yourself from any kind of stress or dysregulation.
As for the hotel’s location: we found it was pleasant to be situated “in town,” on the main Lincoln Ave drag, because we could pop out to the grocery two blocks away (Cal Mart, where, the first night we got in, we procured a bottle of decent wine to enjoy in our room); dine; and go wine-tasting. Some of our favorite tasting experiences of the entire trip were not at vineyards but at two of the tasting rooms walkable from the hotel! It’s also charming to stroll up and down the strip with coffee in hand, pausing to peek in the boutique windows and walking the quirky “stone maze,” which is oddly situated on the side of the main through-fare with minimal context. Art in place. Fellow city-dwellers or anyone who tends to move through life at a quick clip would do well to walk the maze. It is agonizing at first. You know how quickly you could get to the center by walking a direct line via the radius, but instead, you must traipse in concentric circles. (Mr. Magpie told me to slow down multiple times!). And there is something cacophonous about completing this ultimately pointless exercise while traffic bounces by on Lincoln Ave. “Oh, hi, just me, over here, being art, while the world keeps turning!” I loved the cognitive dissonance: me on my deliberate and art-for-art’s-sake spiral, while there are people rushing to work or wherever they need to be. Also strangely alluring that it is deposited, without gallery notes or much instruction, in a vacant lot between elegant Indian Springs and a dry cleaner, with the swell of Napa area peaks around you. The stone maze might well be the perfect mascot for the entire trip: slow down, lean into art in its many forms (including wine!), focus on your senses.
Indian Springs had been recommended by all three of my sources: Magpie readers (I discovered after we returned that it is owned by the family of a Magpie reader!), a local friend, and Reddit. It was also considerably less expensive than the neighboring Auberge property, Solage, which we also considered. Solage seems to offer a slightly more luxurious/high-end experience (with price tag to match), but I will say we loved the Boho-boutique feel of Indian Springs and its proximity to town so much that we already discussed returning and electing to stay at Indian Springs again. That said, Solage is not far away by any means, but it is over on Silverado Trail, which is one of the major roads up and down valley — probably a 15 minute walk from “the main drag.” We did visit and eat at Solage, twice! I can’t believe I’m saying this (I’m sure foodies will thumb their noses), but we found the food at their hotel the best we ate on the entire trip. At the same time, I’ll admit that I’m not confident I did the best job curating our dining itinerary. To be clear: we ate very well, and everything was delicious, but because we were in the land of Thomas Keller, I wouldn’t say our dining program blew my mind. More on meals below.
Returning to lodging: the two other accommodations I want to mention are Meadowood and Embrace Calistoga. I’d been very drawn to Meadowood in my research — it’s a beautiful club and property, and the accommodations look spectacular, but it’s in St. Helena, one town over, and was booked for the dates we were considering. I know nothing about Embrace (hadn’t heard of it in my research) but will say that it looked charming and had no vacancy while we walked by, which is usually a good sign. It’s RIGHT in the middle of “the downtown area.” Wanted to pay that pedestrian intel forward if you’re a B&B type.
What to Drink in Calistoga, CA.
Now, onto wine. We did five tastings in the Calistoga area and thoroughly enjoyed four of them. I don’t have the heart to share the name of the fifth (a small, family-owned set-up), but if you’re traveling there and want to run your itinerary by me, please feel free to email.
ABOVE: VENGE VINEYARDS AND THE BARRELS AT ARROYO VINEYARDS
+Picayune Cellars. I CAN ONLY SPEAK IN EXCLAMATION POINTS ABOUT PICAYUNE. Picayune is a female-founded wine producer that follows “the French Negociant model” (buying small lots from local vineyards and producing their own wine). The French founder, Claire, whom I met at Picayune’s charming tasting room and boutique (which carries an eclectic and interesting assortment of wares, from vintage Hermes scarves to French cutlery), brings a sense of panache and light-heartedness to an area that can be deadly serious about its wine. That said, her wine is still elegant as can be. While we were tasting her wines, she offered to “open something special for us,” which we happily obliged. She uncorked their “Starry Night” red, which I don’t believe you can buy online, and which we eagerly added to our order (you could try calling?). Claire’s focus is making reasonably-priced wines in the California tradition, but these are not, at least for us, “everyday sippers.” We’ll be keeping ours for special occasions. Their tasting room is right on Lincoln Ave. In case you want to order online: We liked their Rive Droite and Padlock blends.
+Venge Vineyards. (Pronounced ven-ghee.) The most iconic of our Napa wine tastings — beautiful venue looking out over the vineyard. We loved the staff (hi, Ruth!), who were knowledgeable and eager to answer questions about all things wine-related. If you’re looking for that classic, big Napa cabernet sauvignon, you’ll do well here. In case you want to order online: We liked their Bone Ash and Igneous Cabs.
+Tank Garage Winery. Fun, wild, funky, experimental — the opposite of Venge! — this tasting room is in an old mechanic’s garage, and highly style-conscious. Some of the wines were out there, but others were fantastic. We had a fun time here. Staff are smart, quirky, well-informed. In case you want to order online: We loved their Hippy Sippy, Pét-Nat Sparkling Chardonnay and Don’t Forget Me red blend.
+Vincent Arroyo Winery. This rustic, small vineyard has a no-frills tasting area (think: a small tin of Carr’s crackers on a folding table, separated from the barrel room by plastic flap dividers) and a matter-of-fact owner, but we learned so much about the wine-making process and business at this under-the-radar destination. We were even present as they carted grapes in from the day’s harvest — see below. We plucked a few to sample right off the cart — they are sweet! Mr. Magpie loved to learn that Arroyo dry farms. You can read about dry farming here, but the TL;DR is: “Dry farming is not a yield maximization strategy; rather it allows nature to dictate the true sustainability of agricultural production in a region.” We learned that dry farming is required in most European wine-growing regions, but the majority of Napa vineyards are irrigated. Interesting context! In case you want to order online: We liked their Petite Syrah.
The other vineyards I’d wanted to visit: Schramsberg (make great sparkling wine, but we’ve already enjoyed it quite a bit, so we decided to prioritize others) and Schweiger Vineyards (recommended by someone whose wine taste I trust, but just couldn’t fit everything in). It occurred to us while out there that another way to curate a vineyard-hopping programme would be to look at a restaurant you respect (say, French Laundry), and see which local wines they carry on their menu. We ran through this exercise on the return trip and added a few to our Google Maps for future trips back.
A few notes: the vineyards were buzzing with activity because we were there the week many of them were harvesting their grapes, but the tasting rooms weren’t packed. You could easily walk in to Tank or Picayune without a reservation and without a problem. However, if you are visiting a vineyard, you should make a reservation online in advance. Many of them are only available by reservation, or will stay open to accommodate your scheduled visit. Most of the tasting rooms / vineyards charge a tasting fee, which they will also waive if you purchase a certain amount of wine. The pricing systems are very sneaky — you pay a premium shipping for fewer than three bottles, which incentivizes you to buy four, at which point, you might as well buy six because it’s a flat fee for 4-6 bottles, and they’ll comp your tasting fee if you buy six. Ahh! It’s a big “get.” We spent a small fortune on wine that we had shipped home, but we also anticipated that. We were there to drink wine! And we will treasure these bottles on special occasions to come. Final note: a standard tasting will take about 90 minutes (helpful when scheduling an itinerary) and you probably drink about 1.5 glasses of wine overall if you drink everything you are poured (usually, you try five or six wines, and some of them will pour more at your request). I would personally not do more than two tastings a day. It’s too much to absorb! At some point, everything just tastes like jammy, herbal cabernet sauvignon.
What to Eat in Calistoga, CA.
On food: we ate at…
SOLBAR AT SOLAGE RESORT — THE ROSEMARY AROUND CALISTOGA IS SPECTACULAR AND ABUNDANT
+Sam’s Social Club. This is on the Indian Springs property — if you stay there, highly recommend a reservation there the first night so you can just hunker down and relax at the resort without having to drive anywhere. It’s exactly what you’d think an upscale California eatery would be. New American with thoughtful cocktails, local ingredients, and a to-die-for burger. I really needed that burger after the long trip out and the mildly harrowing drive across the Bay Bridge.
+Solbar and Picobar at Solage. We are not usually “hotel restaurant” people — we try to seek out the smaller, lesser known spots — but the food here was excellent and I think Solbar has some kind of James Beard accolade. Picobar was actually my favorite meal of the trip – delicious, inventive tacos and you’re sitting at a spectacular pool with cacti, rosemary, olive trees, palm trees around you and the dramatic pine-speckled mountains in the background. I could have stared at the landscape all day. It is uniquely stirring.
+Bistro Jeanty in Yountville. We broke our “stay close to Calistoga” rule by driving all the way to Yountville for dinner here. This place came strongly recommended by many. We thought it was solid — a true and seemingly authentic French bistro with offerings like escargots and forcemeat — but I will say the tables are close together and the portions are absurdly big. I know that’s usually a “pro” but we hate food waste and neither of us were able to make our way through even a portion of our dinners. Food itself was solid; festive ambiance.
+Model Bakery in St. Helena. Worth the trip twice to St. Helena (one town over from Calistoga) — this bakery was founded in the early 1900s and is known nationally for its English muffins. I wish I’d brought more back on the plane! They are delicious (and one of Oprah’s favorite things!). You can have them shipped, but they cost a fortune. Also great coffee and other pastries and sandwiches. Highly recommend if you’re packing a picnic. We actually stopped here on the way to the airport so we’d have good sandwiches on the plane!
+We were supposed to go to Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch our last night (this also came very strongly recommended by many sources, and all the vineyard staff seemed to light up enthusiastically when we mentioned its name) but at the last minute, decided to stay in Calistoga, walking distance from the hotel, and some of the staff at Picayune recommended local favorite Lovina. We thought the food and service was excellent. Ambiance felt — and I know this is oddly specific — like the restaurant in “As Good As It Gets”? You know, when Jack Nicholson takes Helen Hunt out and insults her before she sits down? It had that vibe — sort of older, more lived-in, but vibrant and full of locals.
+Of course, I put my name in on the waitlist at French Laundry for all three nights. It is so hard to get in there. I have friends with the elite credit card / loyalty situations who cannot use their concierges to get a table! I will say that I got two separate email notifications letting me know a table was available for a few of the nights for which we’d waitlisted (you can do this online), but of course they went in a nano-second, so I missed all of them.
+Other restaurants that came up in my research: Gott’s Roadside, Giugni’s, Mustard’s Grill.
If you’ve been to the area, please add your recommendations and reviews and rebuttals in the comments section! Hoping to share more guides like this as we pick up travel this year!
Post-Scripts.
+Still digesting all your fantastic travel tips in response to this post. I’m thinking of compiling them (along with feedback received on Instagram and via email) into a more legible checklist we can all use. For example, thanks to you, I now have on my calendar: “Start taking Emergen-C” three days before my next trip!
+Velvet wide-legs for $50. A no brainer for your holiday repertoire. Pricier, but I also like these flared velvet trousers from Frame.
+Just starting this book. Ann Patchett thinks it’s going to be shortlisted for a major literary prize this year!
+Fun late fall blouse to add to your collection. It’s perfect for those not-sure-how-dressy-this-is nights out with friends. Like a blouse with a plus mark after it. (Under $130.)
+Heading away for a “ski trip” (parenthesis because I don’t ski — will enjoy apres or bunny slopes instead…it will be my children’s first time skiing) for NYE and I’m already beginning to scout fun additions. Love this fair isle and these sheep-patterned (!) thermal joggers.
+If you’re a proper skiier, you might like these cute fair isle base layers from Sweaty Betty — currently on steep discount — and, of course, anything Bogner (but $$). They somehow make even ski pants look sexy.
+Halle Berry wore a dress like this (more sizes here) some time in the 90s and it’s such a major style reference for me. I’d pair with a pointed-toe pump and big earrings to dial down the sexiness a touch.
+A bunch of Magpies are intrigued by the quality of the Uniqlo L/S tees. Does anyone have any strong recs or pieces they are curious about? I am drawn to this ribbed turtleneck, but want to place a larger order for a few to test and report back on for the group. Let me know in the comments!
+I just added a holiday section to Le Shop! So many goodies there for my fellow anticipators!
+If you’re not quite in the December headspace, you can also get all of my Thanksgiving goodies — recipes, playlists, tabletop ideas, run-of-show — here. Just pop your email in and I’ll send you the whole kit. I ran through the past decade of Thanksgivings with some photos from the archives here.
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By: Jen Shoop
This post is sponsored by ALIGNE.
Earlier this year, I discovered the brand ALIGNE and immediately fell in love with their denim dresses. A few of you ordered their Gabriella Dress after I first shared and wrote to me with rave reviews about quality, so I followed suit and ordered their Gitty style, which is a bit more tailored than the looser-fit Gabriella. I’ve long loved dark-wash denim and shirt dresses have been my preferred silhouette for decades — polished, flattering, comfortable, and easy to dress up or down. This dress ticks all the boxes and is just as easy to style with statement sneaks as with dramatic boots (as seen here). I love the high fashion details of this dress in particular: the slightly elongated sleeves, the crisp collar, the dramatic midi length read timeless with a twist. It boasts a thick, heavy denim weight that makes it perfect for colder months. I also love their denim Hibiscus and Harlin style denim dresses — such great twists on a classic! But if you’re not a denim girlie, the Gabriella comes in a fun cord that keeps selling out.
Sizing notes: I took a UK6 (a US 2) in the Gitty dress and found it runs slightly narrow, but still fit beautifully. For context, I’m typically a US 0, so I would advise going up a size in this style. This is true of most of the styles in this post — I took a UK6 / XS — but I’d probably size down if possible in the George coat as well as in the Gabriella dress, as I’ve spotted some fashionistas wearing that style while pregnant. (It looks very roomy!) My tall Magpies will delight in this brand: the styles run long and lean. I’m styling all of these pieces in this post in their “original state” (no tailoring) so you can evaluate for yourself. I’m 5’0, and am planning to hem the skirt and the topcoat. I think I’ll leave the denim dress long, almost maxi-length, though. It’s dramatic and I feel it creates one long, slimming line.
I was thrilled to style a couple of their other pieces as a part of this post, including their iconic George topcoat. It has a beautiful weight to it — you would truly expect that this coat would cost multiples it price tag. Per note above, the coat runs oversized and long. I would size down if you can.
I was also drawn to this wool skirt, which I styled with a navy cashmere turtleneck and navy flats. The skirt reminded me of something Carolyn Bessett Kennedy might have worn, and I attempted to channel her with my restrained styling here. The patch pockets at the front of the skirt are such an interesting detail.
ALIGNE just launched a party collection, and you must see this velvet dress. For $205, packs a big punch. Imagine with a little black satin mule, or maybe some patterned stockings and big earrings. Happy shopping!
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By: Jen Shoop
Q: Patterned turtlenecks like your Ulla from last year. All price points.
A: On the pricier side, love the current season options from Ulla, Cara Cara, and La Double J. On the less expensive side, Cara Cara has a few prints from past seasons in their sale section (see here!), this Cecilia Pettersen is fun, into this wintry pattern from Peruvian Connection, and I love this Land’s End in the “Ivory Encircle Geo” pattern specifically, this Loft, and plaid J. Crew. Finally, I know nothing about this brand, but found it in my research and thought the patterns were cool/artsy/unusual.
Q: A really splurgey baby gift for my sister. She has it all, and I want to get her something really fun and for her.
A: This is so incredibly sweet. Do an Artipoppe carrier! They are the zeitgeist, cool-mom accessory but crazy pricey.
Q: Cute (updated) ankle booties.
A: Splurge: Khaite Dallas boots or these Alexandre Birmans (heel shape is interesting and this brand makes such incredible quality shoes). More reasonable: I love the shape and color options of these Madewell kitten heels. The embellished ones are SO interesting and different. Also, love a lugsole chelsea boot if you’ve not given that style a try — they are more wearable than you think! Pair with jeans, midi/maxi dresses, cords! (Look for less with these.)
Q: Given the fact that I’m 72, I probably can’t wear a bare, bow backed LBD (Ed. note: Magpie was referencing this dress I’d linked in a post). I’m 5’6, 127 pounds and would love a LBD that might be more age appropriate. Do you have any ideas.(price point under $450.00).
A. Hi! Shoshanna has some really chic options that feel modern but offer more coverage. Not sure how dressy you’re thinking, but I love this mixed-media one. If you’re comfortable with showing shoulder, this ALC is so elegant. And this under-$200 style would work for countless occasions. Love the way it’s not fitted but figure-skimming, and the details (cuff, puffed sleeve) feel contemporary.
Q: Would love your thoughts on heeled shoes for date night and church – not too tall and preferably not boots. I find that I have plenty in spring/summer but not much during fall/winter. Thank you!
A: A great pair of boots/booties! Shared some chic bootie options above, but for higher-shaft options, love these Schutzes, these J. Crews, these Stauds, and these LRs. So good with jeans tucked in, or layered beneath patterned fall dresses. Another tack: a pair of Manolo Maysales (look for much, much less with these).
Q: Hi Jen, can you recommend comfy dark black jeans straight leg please, with no distressing at all. Thanks so much!
A: I don’t own this exact pair, but I’d put money on these Gaps being a big winner. So many of my favorite jeans are from Gap — comfortable thanks to Lycra, nearly always TTS.
Q: NYC winter workwear.
A: A great coat and great (warm, durable) boots to begin with. Avoid light colors and suede in both categories, as I presume you spend a lot of time walking / on Subway and we all know the strange street detritus interactions borne of that experience. I would do a coat like this (texture and color are interesting — a bit more eye-popping than standard black) and boots like these or these (look for less with these), but of course depends on dress code in office — I’m imagining you can get away with more casual wear versus suits. I’d buy a few pairs of black pants in different shapes — these, these, these (even these if you have some longline sweaters/cardigans/blazers to throw on top) to mix and match with little cropped sweaters/blazers (like this, this, this, this) beneath turtlenecks (have heard really good things about these Commando bodysuit turtlenecks and they’d be clutch for work so you’re not constantly readjusting/retucking) or over striped button downs. More chic workwear ideas for cooler weather here.
Q: Advent calendar to use year after year, preferably without the little trinkets/candy.
A: My Mom always re-used a simple cardstock one. She didn’t believe we needed candy/gifts every morning of Advent, and we still fought over who got to open the little flap each day. This Etsy shop has some beautiful options. Bonus: you can keep it almost anywhere (on a mantle, kitchen counter, etc) and it packs up nice and flat for next season. I also thought this wood one was sweet and different.
Q: Fair isle sweaters but more funky/whimsical, not the usual brown/green.
A: Such a dreamy lineup of knits! I’d pair with ecru jeans like these or these and flats that clearly communicate the season but that go with the color palette, e.g., these sherpa ones or these croc ones. I find trying to pair lighter/springier colors with darker pants looks a little discombobulated sometimes, so would just embrace the lighter palette but look for winter-appropriate details. The exception is the oat colored mockneck — that you can wear with any pairs of jeans!
A: Doen’s Jane blouse! My sister owns this in several colors/patterns and I always think she looks sexy but casual — it’s the kind of thing you imagine someone wearing while in great vintage Levis, barefoot, pouring a glass of wine, listening to Miles & Coltrane. (And this under-$50 patterned blouse has a similar vibe.) Sezane is another good place to start. They have lots of saucy-but-not-too-too pieces, like this blouse, or this one. (I’m also maybe the wrong person to ask about ‘casual’ — I’d wear either of these on a daily basis.) Also consistently drawn to what SEA puts out in this category (have this, now on sale! — you can see me in it here — and this). Lots of fun patterns/shapes that feel fashion-conscious but aren’t too dressy. Last but not least, these bodysuits from Jacquemus! Is it hot in here!?
Q: An attractive way to have a printer in my home office. Such an eyesore.
A: Keep it in a closet!! This has long been our solution. If that’s not possible owing to electricity / space, there are lots of storage cabinets with cut-outs for cords in the back — love the ones from Room and Board. If you don’t like the idea of having to open/close a door each time you use the printer, this one is petite but would work well and at least keep the printer sort of hidden or at least streamlined.
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